➪ 𝑊ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑇𝑖𝑔𝑒𝑟 𝐼𝑠 𝑁𝑜𝑡 𝐴 𝐶𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑙𝑒𝑡𝑒 𝐼𝑑𝑖𝑜𝑡 ᵏⁿᵇ ᵃᵘ

Chapter 4

"I see why your friends are dubbed the generation of miracles." Was the first thing Kagami said to Kuroko.

When Kuroko had exited the gym, he, by chance, caught sight of Kagami walking away and made his way over to him.

"They really are miracles in a way," muttered the redhead. "Don't get me wrong though, you're a monster yourself."

"I'm flattered you think so. But I'm no prodigy." Kuroko responded. "More than anything, what made you come to the game today?"

"Curiosity I guess. After all your talk about your teammates, and hearing all the rumors of the Kiseki no Sedai, I wanted to see for myself." Kagami shrugged. "I can see why they've never lost a match. Their skills are abnormal for regular middle-schoolers."

"Yes. By the way, I tried taking your advice." Kuroko said.

Kagami cocked an eyebrow, "Oh? What advice?"

"About my partner, Aomine-kun, needing friends. But..." Kuroko's eyebrows scrunched ever so slightly recalling the scene a few moments earlier. He hesitated whether or not to tell Kagami but chose to in the end.

What he got was full-blown laughter.

"BAHAHAHA!!! So you got annoyed and left?!"

Kuroko's eye twitched before he stuck out his palm to jab the taller boy.

"Ouch! Kuroko you bastard," Kagami rubbed his painful side. "Geez, no need to get so worked up."

"I was irritated."

"Yeah, no shit." Kagami scowled. "But you can't seriously leave it there. Ask him again tomorrow or something. Or talk to him more. That way, at least he won't isolate himself more."

"...I will try."

"No offense though, he seems like a total jerk. The way he blatantly looked down on the opposing players is shitty sportsmanship." Kagami said.

"I agree with you there. Aomine-kun is arrogant and prideful but more than anything, I think he just wants to feel happy again after a difficult match."

"Doesn't matter. You shouldn't be rude to other players who worked just as hard just because you have issues of your own." Kagami muttered.

Kuroko nodded slightly. Now he felt a bit guilty for not saying anything back in the locker room when Aomine trash-talked the other team.

"But the other team weren't people I would want to play with either." Kagami frowned. Kuroko gave him a confused look urging Kagami to continue. "I mean, even before the match started, it was like they already decided they were going to lose. And in parts of the game, it was like they were playing to lose. Even I wouldn't feel happy after winning a shitty match like that."

Kuroko's eyes widened slightly. 'So that's why Aomine-kun seemed angrier than usual.'

But he was brought out from his thoughts with Kagami's next words.

"By the way, your style of basketball is something I've never seen before. How'd you come up with it?"

Kuroko wasn't that surprised by the question as if he'd been expecting it.

"It's a long story."

"I've got time. Why don't we go to Maji Burger? I can buy you a drink as a congratulation for your win,"

Kuroko smiled in appreciation and let the taller male lead the way. Neither of them noticed that they were being followed.

-*-*-*-*-

"Uh is this really necessary Momoicchi?"

"It is. Akashi requested information on the transfer student."

"But isn't following them a bit too much? And we've been standing here for like an hour already. I'm pretty sure all they're doing is eating." Kise straightened his back and rubbed his neck.

"Tetsu made a friend that isn't in the basketball club. This is big Kise-kun!"

"Haa, but why didn't you bring Aominecchi with you instead of me?"

Momoi looked at the blonder with a 'really' look.

"Do you honestly think Dai-chan would come? Plus, he's been a real jerk lately." The girl pouted.

"True." And Kise couldn't picture any of the others stalking their phantom and his new friend together. Suddenly, Momoi gasped and tugged his sweater.

"They're leaving. Let's go,"

Kagami and Kuroko exited the fast-food place and started walking down the street not realizing Kise and Momoi were tailing them not too far away. But suddenly, the duo in front came to a stop and started saying something to each other. Unfortunately, Kise and Momoi couldn't hear what was being said between the two.

They started moving again but changed direction which soon took them to a basketball court.

"Eh? A court? Oh, we'll get to see that guy play." Momoi said. Kise nodded.

They followed the two and watched as Kagami and Kuroko discarded their jackets and bags on the bench before Kuroko pulled out a basketball.

-*-*-*-*-

Minutes earlier at Maji Burger.

"You know, your style of basketball is unique," Kagami repeated taking a large bite out of his burger. "But, it's not complete."

"What do you mean?" Kuroko asked. He knew this but he didn't think anyone else would've noticed.

"I mean, you haven't fully unlocked all your abilities. Also, I noticed you never once tried to score a basket. Is there a reason for that?" Kagami licked his fingers and wiped his mouth.

Kuroko paused in mid-sip and pursed his lips. "That's...I can't shoot."

Kagami gave him a weird look, "Like...at all?"

Kuroko just nodded pitifully.

"No offense, but that's just sad dude," Kagami said. He ignored the annoyed look Kuroko gave him. "I mean, that just means you'll become a liability one day."

Kuroko started turning pale and Kagami began to panic.

"I-I'm not saying you're bad but I just think a proper player should strive to have no weaknesses. In my case, my weakness would be strategic planning. I'm more of a 'do now, think later' type of guy."

"Oh. I see what you mean." Kuroko murmured. "It's just that...no matter how much I practice my shooting skills, I don't seem to make any progress."

"That's...odd." Kagami tapped his chin.

Kuroko looked at the taller boy and said, "Do you have any idea how to fix that?"

"Me? Can't you ask one of your miracle friends?"

Kuroko turned downcast making Kagami feel guilty. He sighed and looked at the shorter boy. "I...might have an idea but we'll need to go to a court to try it out."

Kuroko's eyes lightened up and Kagami let out another sigh.

'Geez. When was the last time I even touched a basketball?'